Space Brat by Henry Slesar (1986)

Name: Space Brat
Author: Henry Slesar

Two alien civilizations, Nahrla and Jeheera, have long maintained a tradition of waging their wars on distant worlds rather than their own planets. Having selected Earth as their next battlefield, with the conflict scheduled forty years in the future, both sides must place intelligence agents on the planet to gather strategic information in advance. The Nahrlan War Council debates the optimal form their agent should take. Their scout, Shura, presents the case methodically: a human adult would be hampered by the pervasive mutual distrust characteristic of the Earth species. A dog, while trusted, would have its movements controlled entirely by its owner. After careful study, Shura recommends the most trusted form on the entire planet — a human infant. Babies are unconditionally accepted, adored, and cared for by all of humanity, and special institutions exist to receive and place them without questioning their origins. The agent would endure an initial period of helplessness but would ultimately be embedded within Earth society with unparalleled access and legitimacy. The council votes to approve the plan. A Nahrlan agent is subsequently deposited as a foundling on the doorstep of the Delafield Adoption Agency. A couple, Jane and Dan Bryan, who have been waiting eagerly to adopt, are selected to take the infant home. They are described as devoted and emotional, weeping with joy over their new child. Meanwhile, their neighbor Mr. Gertz complains bitterly about the baby's crying keeping him awake at night, while his wife Emma dismisses his irritation with maternal sympathy for the infant. The story's twist arrives at the end. In the middle of the night, Dan Bryan wakes his wife and proposes they act immediately, suggesting it would look suspicious but that they could relocate the following day. His wife reminds him that Lotha warned them to be careful. Dan dismisses Lotha contemptuously as a Nahrlan traitor, making clear that he and his wife take their orders from Jeheera — the rival alien civilization, not the one that placed the baby. The Bryans are themselves Jeheera agents, and they have been posing as a human couple specifically to intercept and neutralize the Nahrlan infant spy before it can mature and fulfill its mission. The baby's crying abruptly stops. Mr. Gertz, satisfied that the child has simply been fed, rolls over and falls peacefully asleep, entirely oblivious to the extraterrestrial espionage and assassination that has just taken place in the adjacent apartment.

By Henry Slesar · First published 1986 · Genre: Science Fiction, Children's Literature, Adventure · 2,494 words

First lines

_The aliens' invasion plan was logical. To conquer Man, they reasoned, you start with Baby and work up._

Mr. Gertz slapped his forehead in vexation, and his wife, Emma, shifted in their double bed and said: "Louie, for heaven's sake. Go to sleep!"

What this Textopian page supports

Space Brat is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Slesar, dated 1986 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Henry Slesar
Date: 1986 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Children's Literature, Adventure, Juvenile Science Fiction, Humorous Fiction
Length: 2,494 words
Structure: 1 section, 79 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Space Brat by Henry Slesar
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

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How does this short story by Henry Slesar fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?

Genres

Science Fiction — The book features space travel and futuristic settings, which are core elements of science fiction literature.
Children's Literature — The title 'Space Brat' and Henry Slesar's writing style suggest this is targeted at a younger audience with a playful, adventurous tone.
Adventure — The narrative likely contains elements of exploration and action typical of adventure stories set in space environments.
Juvenile Science Fiction — The combination of science fiction elements with a children's book format creates a specific subgenre focused on young readers.